Multielement code translator



Dec. 4, 1951 H. P. LUHN MULTIELEMENT CODE TRANSLATOR Filed July 13, 1949 4 Sheets$heet l INVENTOR HANS P. LUHN BY Qwcihvm ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1951 P. LUHN 2,577,085

MULTIELEMENT CODE TRANSLATOR Filed July 13, 1949 4 SheetsSheet 2 INSULATION 70 INVENTOR HANS P. LUHN ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1951 'H. P. LUHN 2,577,085

MULTIELEMENT CODE TRANSLATOR Filed July 13, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HANS P. LUH N BY Q cmk ATTORN EY Dec. 4, 1951 H. P. LUHN MULTIELEMENT CODE TRANSLATOR 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed July 13. 1949 INVENTOR HANS P. LUHN BY RJ L Cat ATTORNEY INSULATION Patented Dec. 4, 1951 MULTIELEMENT CODE TRAN SLATOR Hans P. Luhn, Armonk, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 13, 1949, Serial No. 104,554

14 Claims.

This invention relates to code translating devices, and more particularly to devices which operate in response to different combinations of electrical impulses for closing contacts in a circuit at different times in a machine cycle.

Certain types of printing machines have print bars which are movable between pivoted hammers and a roller over which a strip of paper is passed, and means are provided for stopping each of the bars in any one of the diiierent positions at which a printing element may be struck by a hammer for forcing it into engagement with the paper. The means for stopping a bar ordinarilycomprises a pawl which is adapted to be released upon the energizing of a magnet for engaging one of a series of notches in the bar. The magnet may be energized, if desired, directly upon the sensing of a perforation at any one of a plurality of index points on a card, in which case the positioning of the printing elements under the hammer by movement of the bar is made synchronous with the positioning of index points on the card under a sensing device. When operating in this manner, it is necessary that the number of index points on the card be equal to the number of printing elements carried by the bar, and the number of characters that may be printed is limited to the number of points at which perforations may be made to effect an energizing of the stop pawl magnet.

By providing a device which operates in response to diiierent combinations of impulses from a card sensing means for completing a circuit through the stop pawl magnet at different times in a machine cycle, it is possible to obtain a stopping of the bar in many printing positions for a comparatively small number of index points sensed. A device for translating combinations of impulses to a mechanical operation at different times in a machine cycle may comprise a series of rotating discs havin notches formed in a portion of their peripheries and adapted to be displaced, so that the notches are aligned with each other at some point, varying with the order in which displacement takes place. A projecting portion on each disc may be engaged by a bail which is controlled by a magnet energized from the perforation sensing means for displacing the disc a predetermined amount relative to the other discs. By locating the projectin portions "so that only one of them comes under the bail each time that an index point on the card comes under the sensing means, any one of the discs may be displaced relative to the others. Means are provided for holding the discs displaced while they make one complete revolution so that aligned notches may come under a second bail for effecting its operation to close a set of contacts. If it is desired to stop the print bar at the same point in each cycle of operation, a device may be provided for holding the discs displaced until it is released by an impulse received from the card sensing means.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved device which is responsive to different combinations of electric impulses for control ling the operation of contacts in a control circuit.

Another object is to provide an improved device which operates in response to different com binations of electric impulses for closing contacts in a control circuit at different times in a machine cycle. I

Yet another object is to provide a device having rotatable elements which are adapted to be displaced relative to each other for effecting operation of means to close contacts in a circuit at different times, dependin on the order of displacement.

Still another object is to provide an improved device which is adapted to be adjusted by electric impulses for effecting a mechanical operation at predetermined points varying with the combinations of impulses to which it is subjected and having means for holding the adjustment until a reset impulse is received.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown two forms which the invention may assume in practice. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system having the improved translating device operatin in response to electric impulses from a card sensing means for closing contacts to control the positioning of a print bar, the view of the translating device being taken on the plane of the line [-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the translating device taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the translating device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

i Fig. 4 is a view of the device taken on the plane of the line i4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views of bail operating cams 3 taken on the planes of the lines 55 and 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic development of the control members of the translating device when in their home positions.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of another form of the translating device with a side plate removed.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted that there is shown a translating device, generally designated I, operating in response to different combinations of electric impulses for controlling a pair of contacts 2 in a circuit including a magnet 3 which determines the stopping of a print bar 4- in a printing position. The print bar, as.

shown herein, forms part of a printing mechanism which may be like that disclosed in Patent No. 1,379,268 granted to C. D. Lake.

I Reciprocably supported by the bar 4 are printing elements 6 which are adapted to be struck by a hammer i for forcing them against a strip of paper 3 passing over a 'rol-ler It]. An inked ribbon H is arranged between the printing elements and the roller for transmitting the character of the element to the paper. The printing elements in this particular case are adapted to print the digits to 9, the bottom element printing 0 and the top element printing 9. The lower end of the bar is pivotally connected to an arm 12 which is continuously urged by a spring l4 ma direction to lift the bar. Formed along the side cf the bar are notches l adapted to receive a pawl It for stopping upward movement of the bar so that one of the printing elements is in a position to be struck by the hammer. The pawl is normally hel'd free of the notches by a latch ll which is operatively connected to the armature E8 of the magnet 3. An energizing of the magnet causes an operation of the armature to retract the latch t? against the action of a spring 26 for effecting a release of the pawl f6. 7

Arranged in a vertical position adjacent the bar I is a rod 22 upon which a block 23 is slidably mo'unted. A lever 24 pivotally supported at '25 is connected at one end through a link 28 to a projecting portion 2'5 of the block 23 and carries a roller 28 at its other end cooperating with a foam 3i motor Si is operatively conhecte'd to the cam for rotating it in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1 to effect a rocking of the lever 24 so as to reciprocate the block 23 on the rod 22. Formed in the bar t is a slot 33 receiving a projecting portion 3 5 of the block 23. This portion normally acts against the bar at the lower end "of the slot for limiting upward movement of the bar by the spring Hi. When the block 23 is moved to its lowest position on the rod 22, the bar 4 is positioned so that the top printing element is slightly below the point at which it may be struck by the hammer and the uppermost notch is slightly below the pawl l6. the lever 24 is rocked in a clockwise direction by the cam, the block 23 is moved upwardly on the rod and the bar 4 follows the block until the pawl I6 is released to engage one of the notches and stop the bar in a printing position. Regardless of the point at which the bar '4 is stopped, the lever 24 operates to move the block to a predetermined upper position, and the portion 34 moves upward freely in the slot 33 after the bar is stopped. If the pawl I6 is not re- 4 leased the bar 4 follows the block until it an gages a stationary abutment 35 at which time the bottom or 0 printing element is positioned for engagement by the hammer '1.

For efiecting operation of the hammer to engage the printing elements, there is provided a lever 36 pivotally supported at 3! and having a slot 38 receiving a roller 39 carried by the block 23. Arranged above the lever 36 is another lever M having a projecting portion 42 acting against a cam surface on the hammer and normally held by a spring 43 in engagement with a stationary abutment 44. The slot 38 in the lever 33 is inclined at its upper end so that the roller 39 operates in this portion of the slot te swing the lever in a counter-clockwise direction and move a pivoted head portion 46 against the lower end of the lever M for swinging the latter in a clockwise direction and moving the hammer away from the type bar. At the limit of upward movement of the block 23, however, the head 4'3 slips on the end of the lever 4| so that the latter is moved suddenly by the spring '43 to throw the hammer against one "of the printing elements with sufficient force -to efie'ct a printing on the paper.

As mentioned above, the magnet 3 is connected in a circuit including contacts 2 which are con-'- trolled by the improved translating device I. This translating device comprises, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, four annular plate members 50, 5!, 52 and 53 surrounding portions 54 of a frame 53. These portions project vertically from the face of a circular plate portion 53 and are termed integral therewith. The portions 54 are of ar=- cuate shape, as shown in Fig. 1, and formed in each are grooves 51 for receiving inwardly projecting portions 38 on the annular plate mem= bers. Extending axially from the plate portion 36 and formed integral therewith is a sleeve portion '63 which opens at its right-hand end in Fig. 2 through the plate portion 56. There is provided for each of the annular plate mainhere a spring '62 surrounding the sleeve portion iii! and having ends 63 and 64 extending into adjacent ends of the grooves 51 in two of the portions 34. As shown in Fig. 1, the spring end "63 engages the portion '58 of the annular mem her and holds it in yielding engagement with a pin 66 extending through a bore in the portions 54 and Anether pin 61 extends through a bore in the plate portion 56 and is arranged for engagement by "one'of the portions 58 on each bf the annular members so as to prevent movement of the latter in a counter-clockwise direction to a point where the portions 53 are free of the grooves 5l' and "are no longer held in place on the portions 5 1. The annular members are assumed to be in their home positions when held by the s ring 62 in engagement with the pin 66.

Extending through the sleeve portion 66 is a shaft T3 which is .j'ou'rnaled in side plates 1| and 72 attached to base block it, as shown in Figs. 3 and The shaft is ope-rat-iv'ely con"- nected to the motor 3] to be driven by the latter in a cloekwi'se direction as shown in Fig. l. The sleeve pertion is connected to the shaft, as will be described later, so that the frame 55 rotates with the shaft and carries the annular members with it. Extending from the outer periphery of each of the annul'ar meinb'ers is a tooth 15 which is adapted to be engaged by a bail i6 pivotally supported by a pin H 'eiitending through the side plates "H and 1 2'. The bail is operatively connected to the armature 18 of a hia'gnet 79 so that the annular members to displace desired combination. The members are held displaced until their notched portions have passed under the bail I95 and they have reached the positions again at which the bail lb may be operated once more to displace them, The open spaces 9? on the gears 90 are then under the gears 92 and, if the bail I6 is not operated the second time, the springs 62 return the members to their home positions. The print bar 4 is returned to its lower position by the portion 34 of the block 23 while the teeth I5 of the annular members are passing under the bail 76.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a translating device like that of Figs. 1 to 4 but having means associated therewith for holding the annular members displaced as they are rotated any desired number of times. This makes it possible to obtain a displacing "of the members from one per forated card and a holding of the displacements while blank cards are passed through the sensing mechanism. The print bar is then positioned on each cycle of operation to print the same number.

The holding means comprises afiframe i3ii having spaced arms I3I pivotally supported on the shaft 9i and carryin a shaft I33 upon which gears I3i are fixed to mesh with the gears cs. Idler gears Hie are fixed to a shaft I38 journaled in the frame I38 and mesh with the gears s2 and I34. A spring Md tends to rock the frame in a clockwise direction about the shaft 9i so as to disengage the gears I34 from the gears Fixed to the bail i6 are arms I42 which engage the ends of the arms iiii when the frame I35 is in a position to engage the gears I35 with the gears and the bail i6 is in its raised position free oi the teeth 75. A rocking of the ball 16 to engage one of the teeth i5 results in a movement of the arms I42 out of engagement with the arms iii and a rocking of the frame I33 by the spring I45 to a position in which the gears I35 are free of the gears 98. The arms I3I swing upwardly when released so that they oifer no obstruction to movement of the arms I42 as the bail in is rocked into and out of engagement with other teeth 15. Mounted upon the frame 55, as shown in Fig. 9, is a cam its having a high portion 54% (Fig. 8) which is adapted to engage a cross piece its on the frame we after all of the teeth 15 have passed under the bail Iii and swing the frame I3ii to a position in which the gears I34 engage the gears 9d and the ends of the arms I34 are engaged by the arms M2. It will be appreciated that the annular members 56 to 53 are then looked in their adjusted positions by the gears 92 and i3 1 meshing with the gears 99 at two different points. As long as the magnet is is not energized to rock the bail iii, the annular members remain locked since the open space 9? in each of the gears can be effective to unlock the members at only one point at a time. The contacts 2 are then closed at the same point in each cycle of operation if the members are displaced to produce such closing.

To unlock the annular members so that the bail I6 may operate to change the order of displacement, an electric impulse is delivered to the magnet 19 to rock the bail 16 just before the annular members reach points at which the first tooth 15 may be engaged. Such impulse maybe derived from the sensing of a hole at the lf'lo. 1 index point on each card. The timing of the card feed must then be such that the No. 1 point passes under the brush I I-I just before the teeth 15 on the member 53 reaches a point to be en- 'g'aged by the has re. 'Index points '2 to *5 may 8 then be provided for the sensing of perforations to eifect the displacement of the annular members. It will be appreciated that each time the number to be printed is changed, there must be a perforation at the No. 1 point to unlock the holding means.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred em-- bodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the apparatus illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1 A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric circuit comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of members mounted upon said frame for rotation therewith, said members adapted to be displaced angularly with respect to each other and to said frame, a device engageable selectively with each of said members for effecting its displacement relative to the others of said members, means responsive to electric impulses for actuating said device to engage said members, and means actuated by said members upon predetermined displacements of the latter for operating said contacts.

2. A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric circuit comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of members loosely mounted upon said frame for rotation therewith, means for yieldingly urging said members toward home positions on said frame, means for locking said members to said frame except as the latter is rotated to predetermined angular positions, said locking means operating to unlock each of said members in a different angular position of said frame, a device engageable with each of said members when unlocked for eifecting its displacement against the action of said yielding means, means responsive to electric impulses for actuating said device to engage said members, and means actuated by said members upon predetermined displacements of the latter for operating said contacts.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 in which said locking means comprises a gear fixed to each of said members and having a space between two teeth at one point greater than the spaces between the other teeth, the points at which the spaces are greater being spaced angularly from each other, a gear fixed to said frame for rotation therewith, and gears fixed to a shaft and meshing with the gears fixed to said members .and said frame.

4. A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric circuit comprising, in combination, a 1'0- tatable frame, a plurality of members mounted upon said frame for rota-tion therewith, said members adapted to be displaced 'angularly with respect to each other and to said frame, means for displacing said members selectively relative to each other as they rotate with said frame, a notched portion on each of said members, the notches in said portions being arranged for alignment with each other only upon predetermined displacements =of said members, and means including a bail adapted to be received in said notches when aligned and to be actuated thereby for operating said contacts.

5. A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric circuit comprising, in combination. a r0- it is rocked in a direction to engage one of the teeth I5 when the magent is energized. A spring- 80 is connected to the armature for holding it normally in a position to disengage the bail from the teeth. When a tooth is engaged by the bail It, the annular member on which the tooth is formed is held against movement with the frame 55 until the bail is kicked out by a projecting cam portion 82 (Figs. 3 and 5) on a plate 82 which is mounted upon the sleeve portion 68 and has a tongue 84 extending through a slot 85 in the sleeve portion and into a groove 85 in the shaft 'Efi.

Fixed for rotation with each of the annular members 59, El, 52 and 53 is a gear 99, and fixed to a shaft 9i journaled in the plates II and "I2 are gears 92 meshing with the gears 90. Fixed to the shaft 19, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is a gear 94 meshing with a gear 95 on the shaft 9I for driving the latter. It will be appreciated that the annular members are locked against movement relative to each other as long as the teeth on the gears 9t mesh with the teeth on the gears 92. In order to permit a displacing of any one of the annular members by engagement of the bail I6 with its tooth I5, the gear 99 for each member has two missing teeth to provide an open space 9'1 (Figs. 1 and 7) which comes under the gear 92 when the tooth 2'5 is in a position to be engaged by the bail I9. If the bail is operated to engage the tooth Hi, the member carrying the tooth is held until the bail is kicked out by the adjacent portion 8i on the plate 82. During this time the other annular members are rotated relative to the member that is held and the gear 92 turns freely in the space 91. As soon as the bail is kicked out, the spring 62 for the displaced member tends to swing the latter in a clockwise direction but the next tooth on the gear 90 at the left of the open space 91 engages a tooth on the gear 92 and the member is held in its displaced position, The displaced member then turns with the other members but is held displaced by the meshing of its gear 9!! with the gear 92 until the open space 97 again comes under the gear 92. If the bail I6 is not operated to displace this member once more, the spring 62 returns the member to its home position As shown in Fig. '7, the teeth I5 are spaced angularly from each other so that the bail I6 may engage only one of them on each operation. Formed in corresponding portions 99 of the annular members are notches I60 which are so located that there is no alignment of the notches in all of the members at any point when they are in their home positions. A displacement of certain members, however, brings notches in all of the members in alignment with each other at some point. The points at which the notches may be aligned have been indicated by the numerals l to 9. If the member SI is displaced by the bail it, an alignment of notches is obtained at the No. 1 point. A displacement of the members 53 and EI provides an alignment of the notches at the No. 2 point. Alignments at the other points may be obtained by similar displacements of the members. The projecting cam portions SI on the plate 82 are located (see Fig. 3) so that the bail "I6 is moved out of its holding position as soon as the notches in the member being held come into line with the adjacent notches of the other members.

For controlling the contacts 2 there is provided a lever I92 pivotally supported on the pin 'I'I at a point between its ends. Fixed to one end of the lever is a member I03 acting on a blade of one of the normally open contacts and operating to close the contacts when the lever is rocked in a clockwise direction. Pivotally mounted upon the lever at I64 is a bail I05 having an arm I06 connected by a spring I01 to a stationary abutment for urgingthe bail in a clockwise direction. Mounted upon the sleeve portion 60 is a cam I08 (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) having a tongue m9 extending through the slot 85 in the sleeve portion into the groove 89 in the shaft 79. The tongue I09 and the tongue 84 on the plate 82 operate to lock the cam I08, the plate 82, and the frame to the shaft 79 for rotation therewith. It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the sleeve portion is somewhat longer than the portions 54 so that the tongues 84 and I09 may extend through the slot 85 while the plate 82 and the cam I08 extend outwardly past the ends of the portions 54. Formed on the cam I08 is a high portion I I9 which lies under the bail I95 until the notched portions 99 of the annular members come under the bail. The cam portion III! and the portions 99 of the annular members extend outwardly beyond the ends of the teeth 15 and provide a continuous smooth surface against which the bail I95 normally rides. The bail I6 is notched at II2 (Fig. 4) so that it may be rocked into engagement with the teeth I5 without obstruction b the cam portion III].

The magnet I9 is connected by a conductor I I5 to one side of a source of D. C. power, and is adapted to be connected through a conductor I IS, a brush II'I sensing perforations in a card I I3, a conducting roller I I9 and a brush I20 to the opposite side of the D. C. source. Feed rolls I22 are operatively connected to the motor 3| for advancing the card past the brush I I? so that any perforations in the card permit contact to be made between the brush and the roller I I 9. The card has four index points at which perforations may be located, and the card is advanced so as to bring one of the points under the brush I I? at the same time that one of the teeth comes into position for engagement by the bail l6. Assume that the card is perforated at its No. 3 point, as shown in Fig. 1. This point will come under the brush II'I when the tooth I5 on the annular member 5| comes into position for engagement by the bail IS. The brush senses the perforation at this point and energizes the magnet l9 to rock the bail for engaging the tooth and holding the member 5| until one of its notches I 96 comes into line with the notches in the other members at the No. 1 point on the peripheries of the members. The print bar 4 starts to move upwardly as soon as the No. 9 point on the members comes into position for engagement by the bail Hi5 and moves synchronously with the members so that the printing elements approach their printing positions successively as the different points on the members pass under the bail I35. With the member 5| displaced to provide an alignment of the notches at the No. 1 point, the bail I drops into these notches as they pass under it and is moved to the right for swinging the lever I I32 in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin ll. The lever closes the contacts 2 for energizing the magnet 3 to release the pawl I 5 so that it stops the bar 9 with the No. 1 printing element in position to be struck by the hammer I. Connected to the side plate I2 is a cam member I25 for lifting the bail I out of the notches after the lever I02 has been rocked to its contact closing position.

It will be appreciated that the bail I8 may be rocked a number of times on each revolution of tatable frame, a plurality of annular members surrounding said frame and rotatable therewith, said members adapted to be displaced angularly relative to said frame, yieldable means for urging said members toward home positions on said frame, means for selectively holding said annular members against rotation to effect their displacement against the action of said yieldable means, a notched portion on each of said annular members, the notches in said portions being arranged for alignment with eachother only upon predetermined displacements of said members, and means including a bail adapted to be received in said notches when aligned and to be actuated thereby for closing said contacts.

6. A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric circuit comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of annular members surrounding said frame and rotatable therewith,

,yieldable means for urging said members toward home positions on said frame, means for locking said members against movement relative to said frame except when each is rotated to a predetermined position, means for selectively holding said annular members against rotation when unlocked to effect their displacement against the action of said yieldable means, said locking means then locking said members in their displaced positions until they are rotated again to positions at which they are unlocked, a notched portion on each of said annular members, the notches in said portions being arranged for alignment with each other only upon predetermined displacements of said members, and means including a bail adapted to be received in said notches when aligned and to be actuated thereby for closing said contacts.

'7. The mechanism of claim 6 in which said locking means includes a gear fixed for rotation with said frame, gears fixed for rotation with said annular members and having teeth missing at points spaced angularly relative to each other, a shaft, means rotatably supporting said shaft, a gear fixed to said shaft and meshing with said first mentioned gear, and gears fixed to said shaft and meshing with said gears rotating with said annular members.

8. A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric circuit comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of annular members surrounding said frame and rotatable therewith, yieldable means for urging said members toward home positions on said frame, a tooth projecting from each of said members, said teeth being spaced angularly from each other, a bail engageable with each tooth selectively for holding the member from which it projects against rotation to effect displacement against the action of said yieldable means, means for actuating said bail to effect its engagement with said teeth, means for locking said members to said frame except when their teeth are in positions for engagement by said bail, a notched portion on each of said annular members, the notches in said portions being arranged for alignment with each other at any one of a plurality of points upon predetermined displacements of said members, and means including a bail adapted to be received in said notches when aligned and to be actuated thereby for closing said contacts.

9. A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric circuit comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of annular members surrounding said frame and rotatable therewith, yieldable means for urging said members toward home positions on said frame, a tooth projecting from each of said members, said teeth being spaced angularly from each other, a bail engageable with each tooth selectively for holding the member from which it projects against rotation to effect displacement against the action of said yieldable means, means responsive to electric impulses for actuating said bail to engage said teeth, means for locking said members to said frame except when they are in positions in which their teeth may be engaged by said bail, said locking means comprising a gear fixed to each of said members and having a space between two teeth greater than the spaces between the other teeth, a gear fixed to said frame for rotation therewith, and gears fixed to a shaft and meshing with the gears fixed to said members and to said frame, the spaces between the teeth on the gears fixed to said members being so located that they come under said last mentioned gears when the teeth on said members are in position for engagement by said bail, a notched portion on each of said annular members, the notches in said portions being arranged for alignment with each other at any one of a plurality of points upon predetermined displacements of said members, and means including a bail adapted to be received in said notches when aligned and to be actuated thereby for closing said contacts.

10. A mechanism for operating contacts in an electric circuit at different times in response to different combinations of electric impulses received comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of members mounted upon said frame for rotation therewith, said members adapted to be displaced relative to said frame, yieldable means for holding said members normally in home positions on said frame, means including a bail engageable with said members for displacing the latter selectively against the action of said yieldable means, an electromagnet adapted to be energized by said electric impulses for engaging said bail with said members, means for locking said members in their displaced positions until they have completed one rotation with said frame, each of said members having a notched portion extending about a portion of its periphery, the notches in said portions being normally out of alignment and being adapted to be aligned at any one of several points depending upon the displacement of said members, a bail movable into said notches when aligned for actuation thereby, and means connected to said last mentioned bail for operating said contacts.

11. A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric circuit comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of annular members mounted upon said frame for rotation therewith, means for yieldingly urging said members toward home positions on said frame, a tooth projecting from each of said members, said teeth being spaced angularly from each other a bail engageable with each tooth selectively for holding the member from which it projects against rotation to effect displacement against the action of said yieldable means, means responsive to electric impulses for actuating said bail, means for locking said members to said frame and being releasable for unlocking said members when the teeth projecting therefrom reach positions for engagement by said bail, said locking means comprising a gear fixed to each of said members and having teeth missing at a point thereon, a gear fix d to said frarre for rotation therewith, gears fixed to a shaft and meshing with the gears fixed to said members and to said frame, the points at which t e teeth. are missing on the gears fixed to said members being so located that they come under said last mentioned gears when the teeth on said members are in position for engagement by said bail, a frame pivotally supported by said shaft and carrying gears adapted to mesh with said gears fixed to said members, idler gears meshing with said gears carried by said frame and with the gears fixed to said shaft, said last mentioned frame being engageable by said bail when in its retracted position for holding the gears carried thereby in mesh with the gears fixed to said members and being released by said bail when the latter is actuated by said means responsive to electric impulses, yielding means for swinging said last mentioned frame when released in a direction to move the gears carried thereby out of mesh with the gears fixed to said members, a notched portion on each of said annular members, the notches in said portions being arranged for alignment with each other at any one of a plurality of points upon predetermined displacements of said members, and means including a bail adapted to be received in said notches when aligned and to be actuated thereby for closing said contacts.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 including a cam fixed for rotation with said first mentioned frame and engageable with said second mentioned frame for swinging it in a direction to engage the gears carried thereby with the gears fixed to said members after the latter have passed through positions in Which'their teeth may be engaged by said first mentioned bail.

13. A mechanism for controlling the positioning of a print device in response to different combinations of electric impulses derived from the sensing of perforations at index points in a record comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of members mounted upon said frame for rotation therewith, yieldable means for urging said members toward home positions on said frame, a tooth projecting from each of said members, said teeth being spaced angularly from each other, a bail engageable with each tooth for holding the member from which it projects against rotation and effecting displacement of the member against the action of said yieldable means, means for rotating said frame so as to bring said teeth to positions for engagement by said bail in synchronism with the sensing of perforations at said index points, means for locking said members to said frame except when said teeth are in positions for engagement by said bail,

means responsive to said electric impulses for actuating said bail to engage said teeth, a notched portion on each of said members, the notches in said portions being arranged for alignment with each other at any one of a plurality of points upon predetermined displacements of said members, a second bail adapted to move into said aligned notches as they pass under it, means for moving said print device through its different printing positions in synchronism with the passing of said notch aligning points under said second bail, and means operating on the movement of said second bail into aligned notches for stopping said print device in its printing position.

14. A mechanism for controlling contacts in an electric current comprising, in combination, a rotatable frame, a plurality of annular members surroundin said frame and rotatable therewith, said members adapted to be rotated relative to each other and to said frame, yieldable means for urging said members toward home positions on said frame, means engageable with said members selectively when in different predetermined positions for holding the latter against rotation to effect their displacement from home positions against the action of said yieldable means, a plurality of locking means for holding said members against movement relative to said frame, one of said locking means operating to release each of said members when the latter reaches a position in which it is engageable by said holding means and another of said locking means operating to release said members when said holding means engages any one of said members, a notched portion on each of said annular members, the notches in said portions being arranged for alignment with each other only upon predetermined displacements of said members, and means ineluding an element adapted to be received in said notches when aligned and to be actuated thereby for closing said contacts.

HANS P. LUHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numcer Name Date 768,558 Burnett Aug. 23, 1904 1,719,535 Davis July 2, 1929 1,760,379 Stewart May 27, 1930 2,119,064 Watanabe Ma 31, 1938 

